All What You Need To Know About The Home Bidet

Bidet – A low-mounted plumbing fixture or type of sink intended for washing the genitalia, inner buttocks and anus.

Main Document

Many of us have heard the argument for using a bidet – that it saves toilet paper. According to Scientific American, Americans use 36.5 billion rolls of toilet paper a year, representing the pulping of some 15 million trees. Yes, that’s a lot of trees. But saving paper isn’t the only reason why people should use bidets. In fact, even if paper waste wasn’t reduced, there are still several reasons why a bidet is better.

One of the most compelling reasons is that using water to wash yourself is more effective and hygienic than using dry paper. Let’s take washing your face, for example. When you want to wash your face, would you just grab a piece of dry paper and start rubbing your face with it? Of course not. You would go to the sink, splash some water on your face, and wash it that way.

But hypothetically speaking for a moment, let’s imagine what would happen if we all just used dry paper to clean ourselves. Without any water, the dirt and oils on your face would continue to build up over time. To counter-act this, you could rub the paper harder – but could lead to mild facial abrasions and micro-tearing of the skin. Not to mention that the paper you’re using is bleached with chemicals (to make it white in color), and often perfumed. Both of which could cause further irritation.

So if using dry paper is not very effective and abrasive at the same time, why would you clean your bottom like that? It’s the most sensitive part of your body! Yes, washing with water is the best way to clean. But many of us have been conditioned since childhood to accept something different. We’ve been taught to use dry paper to clean ourselves. But it’s wrong.

Here are some other reasons why a bidet is better:

A New Level of Comfort – Water is a more soothing way to clean as opposed to using toilet paper. This is especially true for those who are sensitive in that region.

It’s Hands-free – There’s less of a chance of getting bacteria on your hands (and spreading germs) because bidet usage is a touch-less experience. Your hands stay on your lap, while the bidet works beneath you.

Medical Conditions – Bidets are great for those who have certain medical conditions. Many hemorrhoids sufferers use bidets with a lot of success. Persons with disabilities who can’t wipe themselves find bidets to be especially useful. Any patient who has gone thru surgery in that region will also find comfort in a bidet.

Women & New Mothers – Menstrual periods can often produce feelings of un-freshness. Washing yourself with water will help you feeling clean. Mothers who have recently gone thru childbirth can be very sensitive in that area. Bidets can be a more soothing and relaxing way to go.

Seniors – As we age, it can be increasingly difficult to use the restroom. Some turn to care-givers for assistance with wiping. This can lower a person’s self esteem – having to depend on someone else to use the toilet. Increase confidence and regain your independence!

Types of Bidets:

Warm Air Dry:

After using a bidet, there is a bit of residual water that remains after washing. It’s similar to having beads of water on your skin when first stepping out of the shower.

Before the modern electronic bidet came along, people would use a towel to dry themselves off. Using a towel is unnecessary these days however, since the electronic bidet comes equipped with a warm air dry. This is perhaps the bidet’s most popular feature.

The air dry is a practical solution for drying oneself after using the bidet. It’s very similar in concept to hand dryers frequently found in public restrooms. When done washing, press the “Dry” button on the bidet’s control panel to activate. The stream of air comes from a small vent near the wash nozzle’s housing pocket, and blows across your bottom. Just like hand dryers, it will take a minute or two to get completely dry.

Originally, putting hand dryers in restrooms was designed to cut costs on paper towels. For a busy bathroom, the cost of refilling the paper dispenser alone could be several dollars a day. This results in paper towel expenses exceeding $1,000 annually for just one bathroom. Saving on these costs was a huge selling point for hand dryer manufacturers early on – spend $300 on a hand dryer, and save $700 every year. Fast forward to today, and we can see why hand dryers have become so prevalent everywhere we go.

Likewise, it’s true that toilet paper costs would decrease by adding a bidet to your home. We view this more as an ancillary benefit though, since the primary reason for purchasing a bidet is to be able to clean with water, which has many other benefits outside of financial ones. But if you’re on the fence regarding the purchase of a new bidet, saving on toilet paper expenses is worth some consideration. Another (and perhaps stronger) point to consider is the effect reduced paper waste would have on the environment.

On most electronic bidets, air dry settings can be adjusted as well. The main purpose of adjusting the temperature and/or force exerted from the air dry is that it reduces drying time. Some folks may not have time to sit through the dry cycle, so they’ll just dab themselves with a bit of toilet paper to accelerate the process. Or, simply increase the bidet’s air dry setting and this will accelerate drying. We’ve seen electronic bidets with up to five different air dry settings, so it does help to do some research and find which model is best for you.

Electronic Bidets:

Bidet users quickly realize however, that even the softest roll of toilet paper is not as soft as water.

When most people try the modern electronic bidet for the first time, the most common responses are fairly positive. Indeed, it can be a rather refreshing experience for the first-time bidet user. Think about it… these people have been using toilet paper their entire lives. They are so accustomed to taking one, two, or even three wipes with dry paper after using the restroom. It’s no wonder they are pleasantly surprised at the feel and effectiveness of their first aerated, water wash.

So what do people usually say after their first bidet experience? Most people like the fact that they are cleaning with water and find it to be more soothing than dry paper, which can sometimes be abrasive. When people are shopping for toilet paper for example, they usually look for the softest one. Bidet users quickly realize however, that even the softest roll of toilet paper is not as soft as water. People also cite that using water feels cleaner, and is more natural. Since we usually take showers in the morning to clean ourselves, using a bidet can be like taking a mini-shower, in between showers, so to speak.

Others comment on the bidet’s heated seat. Most people have never sat on a warmed toilet seat before, and it usually takes a few seconds to realize that the seat they are sitting on is indeed heated. This too, is a new experience. And then there’s perhaps the bidet’s most popular feature – the warm air dry, which helps with residual moisture after washing.

So let’s give a brief overview of the features most noted when people try the electronic bidet for the first time:

The Experience of Water – The bidet uses telescopic wash nozzles to clean you after using the restroom. These nozzles extend when activated, have both posterior and frontal wash functions, and retract back into their housing pocket when not in use. Folks who try the bidet find that water is a more comfortable way to clean, particularly for the more sensitive parts of the body. What’s most interesting however, is when people realize that using water to wash their body is something they do already – when taking a shower. Using a bidet can become an extension of something we do everyday.

Heated Seat – The temperature controlled, heated seat is also a popular feature. Similar to some luxury cars which have them, the bidet provides heated comfort at a temperature the user can control. The heated seat is especially useful in the cold winter months, as you won’t have to sit on a freezing cold toilet seat anymore.

Air Dry – The bidet’s air dry is very similar in concept to hand dryers frequently found in public restrooms. At the touch of a button, the warm air dry is activated. The stream of air comes from a small vent which can be found near the wash nozzle’s housing pocket, and is directed to blow across your bottom. Just like hand dryers, it will take a minute or two to get completely dry. It’s also worth mentioning that an important side-benefit of the air dry is that it reduces paper waste which in turn, is more friendly to the environment.

3 Photos of the All What You Need To Know About The Home Bidet

Related Post from All What You Need To Know About The Home Bidet

Bidet use in most European countries is a common practice, but here in the United State, we are slowly catching up to them one bathroom at a time. Some people wonder why bidets are so popular in other countries, and that is a really good question. Do they know something that we don’t? Their anatomy is the same as ours […]